Visual teaching aid



Nov. 30, 1954 D. sPooNl-:R

VISUAL TEACHING AID Filed Aug. 8, 1952 @pf M mmf .N um M MW u f. ...nu A )L WW MW B 2 f, .I Hmm Fw y wm UnitedStates Patent Oiiiee 2,695,463 l Patented Nov. 30, 1954 2,695,463 vIsUAL TEACHING AID Daniel Spooner, Long Beach, N. Y. Application August 8, 1952, Serial No. 303,222 Claims. (Cl. 155-39) The present invention relates to educational devices, and more particularly to a visual aid for teaching children to tell time.

In attempting to teach relatively young children to tell time, conventional educational devices exhibit shortcomings traceable to the inherent limitations of the unschooled and untrained mind of the average child. However, even before any formalized education, most children can count and have the capacity to associate rather simple symbols with words or phrases. t Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a visual time-teaching aid which takes advantage of the capacities of the average child prior to formal training. In particular, an object of the present invention is the provision of an educational device which operations involved in telling time by symbols or indicia raladily distinguished and easily associated by a young c ild.

The above and still further objects of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the following description of an illustrative embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a visual time-telling aid embodying features of the present invention; and F Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the time-telling aid of ig. l.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown a teaching aid which advantageously pictorially relates the essential mental steps involved in the telling of time to relatively simple symbols. Specifically, a circular member is provided with a clock face 12 thereon provided with numerals from l `to 12 at spaced peripheral locations indicative of the hours of the day.

l A dividing line 14 extends across the clock face 12 from the numeral 12 to the numeral 6 and subdivides the clock face into a right hand segment 16 separated from a left hand segment 18. The right hand segment 16 is provided with an identifying member indicating the right hand segment to be the after side of the clock face. In the illustrative embodiment the indicating member 20 is provided with a pictorial representation 22 of one child chasing another child which: is suggestive .to the adolescent being taught of the term after; that is to say, one child in pursuit of or after the other child. The left hand segment 18 is provided with a member 24 indicating the left hand segment 18 to be the before side of the clock face. In this instant, the pictorial representation takes the form of the symbol B-4, designated by the numeral 26.` Since most children of preschool age are familiar with the alphabet and with numbers, this symbol readily suggests to the child the word before An elongated member 28 is constructed to simulate a human hand and is pivoted adjacent one end on a pin 30 for movement about the clock face 12 to traverse the right and left hand segments 16 and 18, respectively. The elongated member 28 is to be the hand and is provided with an identifying member 20 having symbols 22 corresponding to the identifying member and symbol 20, 22 on the right hand segment 16. The identifying member 20 and symbols 22 are uppermost and properly discernable only when the before or after member 28 traverses the right hand segment 16. Another identifying member 24 including the symbols 26 is provided on the before or after member 28 and is similar to the identifying member and symbol 24, 26 on the left hand segment 18. The identifying member plctorially represents or interprets the fundamental mental` before or after 24 and symbols 26 are uppermost and properly discernible only when the before or after member 28 traverses the left hand segment 18. Accordingly, as the before or after member is selectively positioned, overlying either the right hand or left hand segment of the clock face 12, the appropriate indicia or pictorial representation on the before or after hand will be observed by the child and readily associated with the corresponding segment of the clock face. In other words, when the before or after hand is between the hour and half past the hour; that is, when it is overlying the right hand segment 16with the afterf indicia 20', 22 uppermost, the child will associate that the time is atten Similarly the child will ascertain that the time is before when the before or after hand is between the numerals 6 and l2, that is, when it is overlying the left hand segment 18 with the before indicia 24', 26 uppermost.

Another elongated member 32 shaped to simulate a human hand and of a length shorter than the before or after member 28 is pivoted adjacent one of its ends on the pin 30. The elongated member 32 is provided with an identifying part or member 34 which is a pictorial representation of the face of a clock. Accordingly, the child will be taught that this is the oclock hand and any number pointed to `by the oclock hand is an ocloc number. t

The extremity 36 of the before or after member 28, in the form of a human hand, is arranged with the index, finger and thumb defining a circular opening 40. The middle, ring and pinky lingers are positioned to provide an arrow or pointer 38 adapted to extend toward the particular number or marker immediately adjacent the before or after hand certain number of units after as the member 28 traverses the right hand segment 16 and that the time is a certain number of units before? the left hand segment 18. In order to facilitate the Y counting of the units before or after, that is, the

minutes, markers in the form of lines 42 are provided at spaced peripheral locations of the clock face 12.

The markers 42 on the right hand or after segment 16 are successively provided with the numbers 1 to 29 reading clockwise from the numeral 12 to 6. Conversely the markers 42 on the left hand or before segment 18 are successively provided with the numbers l to 29 reading counterclockwise from the numerals 12 to 6. It is to be noted that `the marker opposite the numeral 12 is in the form of a starting point or circle 44 to differentiate the same from the markers 42 since the marker 44 should not be counted when ascertaining the units or minutes before or after` the hour.

Contiguous and below the numeral 12 there is provided a pictorial representation 46 suggestive of the whole hour. In the illustrative example, which has been found to be successful in actual use of the teaching aid,

i a whole apple is provided as symbolic of the hour;

whereas, a similar pictorial representation 48, namely, half an apple is symbolically suggestive of half of the whole or, in this case, half of the hour. Accordingly, as the before or after hand traverses the cloclcface 12 and reaches the point where it extends toward the numeral 6, the pictorial representative 48, suggestive of a half, will be framed within the opening 40 of the extremity or the indicator part 36 of the hand 28; Likewise when the before or after hand points toward the numeral l2, the pictorial representaitve 46 suggestive of the whole, will be framed within the opening 40 of the indicator part 36. l

The following teaching `technique may be advantageously followed in utilizing the time-telling aid of the present invention: First, the child is taught the relatively simple phrase The time is. `After grasping this, the child is taught to associate the after side or segment 16 of the clock with the identifying indicia 20, 22 thereon. Also the child is taught to associate the before` segment or side 18 of the clock face 12 with the suggesive pictorial representation 26 of the identifying mem- Once the above is reduced to memory, the child is` the oclock` to indicate that the time is a as the member 28 traverses to rmly implant this in the mind of the child. The child is then informed that each number is an ocloc and that the oclock is the numeral nearest to the oclock hand. The child is then schooled to repeat the phrase The time is followed by a designation of the oclock as determined by the position of the oclock hand.32.

When `the childhas completelygrasped this simplified approach to the telling of the hours, the next step isxto teach the child to associate the before or after hand 28 with the appropriate segments of the clock face 12. This is readily. accomplishedby .the correlationof the pictorial representations on `the member 28 to the corresponding pictorial representations or symbols of the segments .16 vand 18. Specifically, .as the before `or after hand traverses the segment I6 .the identifying member 2 6 with the symbols 22 is uppermost .and readily suggests to the child The time is after. Similarly, when the before or after.hand .traverses thesegment 1S of the clock face 12, the .identifying member'24 and the symbol 26' is uppermost and easily related to the. corresponding identifying member -24 ,and symbols `26 provided on the left hand or before segment of the clock face. The child is then capable of .ascertaining whether or .not 'ihe `time is before or after the "oclockf At this point .the child is then taught to say The .time is after the oclock. In the illustrative example, the before or after hand ,overlies thesegment 16 andthe symbols readilyseen are suggestive of after. The .oclock hand is pointed to the numeral 5, and accordingly the child :will say The time :is after y ocloc After the child has practiced before .or after.sufficiently and is capable of. correlating the term before ,or after,y as suggested bythe pictorial vrepresentations .on the segments 16, 18 and on `the before or after hand 28, the child is capable of following the following simplied technique in ascertaining the time: VFirst, he repeats the simple phrase The time is. Thereupon the child pictorially relates the indicia vor symbols on the before..or after hand :28 whichis .uppermost andl overlying the appropriate .clock segmentand says .either before or after. Then :the child notes in which direction the oclock .hand ispointed .and says 5 oclock. Thechild will then repeat the phrase The .time .is-after-S oclock.

`If the child is'capable of ascertaining numerals from 1 10.29, which is entirely commonplace even before entering formalized training, the .child is taught to employ the .unitpr minute markers A-Zwithnthe appropriate numerals in ascertaining the .exact time in minutes before or aften When the before or .after .hand 28 is over the after segment 16 the child .is taught Ato recognizethe :minute .numeral nearest the .pointer 38 Ion the before or after .hand and can .then state .the numerical designation of Athe .time in .minutes priorto the word after in the appropriate phrase. Similarly, .when the before or after hand 28 is .over the segmentlS, the child is .taught to lrecognizethe minute numeral nearest thepointer 38 and can then state the numerical designation ofthe .time in minutes immediately preceding the word before in .the simple sentence .which `.he has learned .to repeat inthe appropriate instance.

After completely mastering this technique, the child can beztaught to .differentiate .the hour from half past the hour. This is readily accomplished bythe provision of theindicator part `36 .onthe free extremity ofthe before or after member '28 which is arranged to frame the pictorial representation 44 6 suggestive of a whole orthe Vhour when the before or after memberl points to thenumeral l2. A similar representation 48 isprovided contiguous to the numeral `6 which pictorially relates one half or half past the oclock in the childs mind.

.In substantially the aforesaid manner, it is possible to teach a child of preschool age to tell time with a reasonable. amount of accuracy and in a manner requiring little t mental agility since the visual aid is `particularly designed to .exploit the .meager knowledge of the child, which usually .extends to theability to count and -to associate a word or a phrase with a suggestive pictorial representation.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, l have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be-apparentto thosefskilled inthe art .that .changesimaybe madewin .the form Y,of .the apparatus ...disclosed .without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims yand 4that in somecases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

1. In a visual time telling aid, a member having a clock face thereon provided with numerals from l to l2 indicative of the hours, a dividing line extending across said clock face from the numeral 12 to the numeral 6 and subdividing said clock face into a right hand segment separated from a left hand segment by said dividing line, identifying means on said right hand segment indicating the time to be afterf identifying means on said left hand segment indicating the time to be before, an elongated before or after member in the form of a hand pivoted adjacent one end for movement about said clock face to traverse said segments, identifying means on said elongated member similar to the identifying means on said right hand segment and properly `discernableonly :when said elongated member .traversessaid right `-'handtsegment, and identifying means on said elongatedmember similar to the identifying means onsaidleft hand segment and `properly discernable onlylwhenssaidi elongated member traverses said left hand segment.

2. In a visual time -telling aid, .;a member .having :a clockface thereon provided with numerals from 'lato/l2 indicative .of the hours, adividing lineextending iacross said clock face from thenumeral l2 Ato vthe .numeral 6 and subdividing vsaidcloclcface tinto, a might handsegment separatedfrom aleft Ihand segment by said .dividingline, identifying means on said right hand segment indicating `the time to l'be after, identifying :means on saidleft hand segment indicating the time to be .ibefore, an elongated beforeorlafter member in the' fprm.=o`f ea hand pivoted yadjacent oneend for movement about said clock/face to traverse said segments, identifying means on said elongated member similar to the identifying means on said right hand segment :and .properly .discernable only when said elongatedmember tra-verses said right hand segment,.and a member shorter inlength than said before or after member and in the form .of a hand, said memberbeing pivoted adjacent one-endrfor movement about said clock'face and .including :identifying means suggestive .of the. phrase o:clock.

3. In a visual time telling aid, a member having a.'elock face thereon provided with numerals from l to l2 indicative of the hours, a dividing. line extending .across said clock face from the numeral l2 to the numeral ..6 yand subdividing said clock faceinto a right hand segment separated from a lefthand. segment-.bysaid .dividing line, identifying means on said right hand segment indicating the time to be after, identifying means on said left hand segment indicating the time `to .be beforefrfan elongated before orafter.member in :the kformy of .a hand pivoted adjacent .one end4 for :movement about said clock face to traverse saidsegments, identifying-.means on said r elongated member similar -to'the identifyingzmeans on said right n hand segment and .properly discernable only when said elongated .member .traversesfsaid right hand segment, identifying means onf saidelongated mem-V ber similarto 4the identifying means on :said left'fhand segmenttand properly vdiscernable only :when .saide'longated member. traverses said left hand :segmentpa symbol on said .clock -face contiguous to .thenumeral 12 :suggestive of the hour, another symbol on saidzclockrfa'ce contiguous. to'V the vnumeral 6 tsuggestiye. of '"half f of the hour, `and ,an indicator part .ons'the ffreesextremityvtof said before Aor after member for successivelfyfframing said symbols.

4. In a visual time .tellingv aid, a.memherhavingfaclock face .thereon-provided. with .numerals t from -lf yto 4112 vindic-l ative of thehours, a .dividinglineextendingfaoross.saidclock face .fromxthe numeral 12110 the numeral Stand subdividing said clockface-into arighthand-segment separated from a left'hand segment by said dividing'iline, identifying means 4 on `said right hand `segment indica-ting the timeto .be after,.,identifying means on `said left hand `segment indicating 'thetime to-be"before'," an

elongated before or after member nlthe A"formfof ya hand pivoted adjacent :oneendfor movement ,about said clock face tto-traverse said-segments, identifying fmeans onv said elongated membersimilar to the identifying -means on Asaid `right handsegmentandproperlyfdiscernab1e=only when t said elongated =member ftraversessaid right hand segment, identifying :means :on `said-elongated 'membersimilar to the identifying means on said left hand seg ment and properly discernable only when said elongated member traverses said left hand segment, a first group of markers arranged at spaced intervals of said right hand segment of said clock face, said rst group of markers being successively provided with numbers from 1 to 29 reading clockwise from the numerals 12 to 6 on said clock face, and a second group of markers arranged at spaced intervals of said left hand segment of said clock face, said second group of markers being successively provided with numerals from l to 29 reading counterclockwise from the numerals 12 to 6 on said clock face.

l5. In a visual time telling aid, a member having a clock face thereon provided with numerals from 1 to 12 indicative of the hours, a dividing line extending across said clock face from the numeral l2 to the numeral 6 and subdividing said clock face into a right hand segment separated from a left hand segment by said dividing line, identifying means on said right hand segment indicating the time to be after, identifying means on said left hand segment indicating the time to be before, an elongated before or after member in the form of a hand pivoted adjacent one end for movement about said clock face to traverse said segments, identifying means on said elongated member similar to the identifying means on said right hand segment and properly discernable only when said elongated member traverses said right hand segment, a member shorter in length than said before or after member and in the form of a hand, said member being pivoted adjacent one end for movement about said clock face and including identifying m'eans suggestive of the phrase oclock, a symbol on said clock face contiguous to the numeral 12 suggestive of the hour, another symbol on said clock face contiguous to the numeral 6 suggestive of half of the hour, an indicator part on the free extermity of said before or after member for successively framing said symbols, a rst group of markers arranged at spaced intervals of said right hand segment of said clock face, said first group of markers being successively provided with numbers from 1 to 29 reading clockwise from the numerals 12 t0 6 on said clock face, and a second group of markers arranged at spaced intervals of said left hand segment of said clock face, said second group of markers being successively provided with numerals from 1 to 29 reading counterclockwise from the numerals 12 to 6 on said clock face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 696,690 Murray Apr. l, 1902 2,172,450 Pitcher Sept. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,281 Great Britain 1915 

